"Re-open Islington JobCentre", says Bridget Fox

11.10.00am GMT Fri 13th Mar 2009

Bridget Fox is calling on the Government to re-open a JobCentre for central Islington

Liberal Democrat campaigner Bridget Fox is asking the Department of Work and Pensions to reconsider the closure of Islington's Upper Street JobCentre Plus. Until last year, there was a JobCentre Plus at the Angel and another on Barnsbury Road. But the busy Upper Street branch closed last year. Yet the demand for its services has not been higher for years.

The Upper Street JobCentre was in a highly visible location, which was good news for job seekers and employers alike. The remaining JobCentre Plus in Barnsbury, where people sign on, is away from the centre of Islington.

Bridget Fox says, "Upper Street was the right place to attract employers to advertise. It's madness to halve the JobCentre provision just as unemployment is rocketing. Islington people have the will and the talent to work, but cutting back JobCentre places is not going to help."

18 months ago, Ms Fox's Lib Dem colleague Julia Goldsworthy MP questioned the Government on JobCentre Plus closures, but was told that the information would only be available 'at disproportionate cost'.

Bridget Fox says, "The real cost of unemployment is on local communities. Closing the JobCentre Plus on Upper Street just as the downturn began is another sign that the Government is out of touch with what Islington people need.

"I'm asking the Labour government to admit they got it wrong, and re-open a JobCentre at the centre of Islington."